The letter awaited at Veracruz port. The Admiral read it as soon as they reached land. He sent for Hernan Castillano and his friend Luis Alberto Alonso, and showed them the message with the Viceroy’s seal. The two young captains read it together and Castillano gave it back to the Admiral, setting his jaw to hold back his tongue.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXOuxmNcEJ

“I’m sorry, Hernan,” the Admiral said, patting his back. “You’ve earned some time off. Go home to Campeche. The Lion won’t sail again for months.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiWAMRNZyE

Castillano nodded, grinding his teeth. Going back to patrolling the coastal cities on the mainland! For God’s sake! Halfway to the officer’s lodging, he told the coachman to change destination. He’d burn in hell before taking those orders like a damn lamb.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rppiNY6FR

The Admiralty officers didn’t hide their disgust, forced to greet that officer showing up on his sailing uniform and still smelling of tar. But they had to invite him to take a seat. And they left him waiting for as long as they could before delivering his message to the Great Admiral of New Spain. To their dismay, the Great Admiral came out to welcome the officer personally, shook his hand with a bright grin and invited him into his private office.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69OUDmhryW

Castillano finally made it to the officers’ lodging by sunset. But before heading to his room, he dropped by Alonso’s. His friend was getting dressed, just out of the tub. Seeing Castillano’s face, he dismissed his assistant and filled two glasses of wine.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7e6H1Yv0w

“What have you done now, Hernan?” Alonso asked, handing him a glass.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Yyuhmso2

He grinned and Alonso sighed.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡkub9pPvGg4

“The Great Admiral assured me—”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrbRySTwoU

“You went to see the Great Admiral?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xZ16uisXH

“Well, yes! What else was I to do? I was saying, he granted me that the Lion will have priority to be repaired. And I got him to give us a special mission as scouts.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhbHqAwVhN

“Us?” Alonso repeated, frowning.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUebLM4Fjs

“Well, not us. Me. But I thought you may want to join me.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmZzn64Gz1

“Explain yourself. You said scout.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4iyLJ9iFq

“You’ve read the Viceroy’s orders, Luis: the Fleet is back to its old route, patrolling the coast from here to Maracaibo and back. Well, I got a better route for the Lion: we’ll follow the Armada from open sea, as scouts to spot possible threats to coastal cities. Considering our fame, the Great Admiral agreed that we’ll be a good deterrent.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FkkQ66ULp

“Great! You’ll still be able to take on the dogs! And why the plural?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlLnV9tZP2

Castillano grimaced, hoping his friend wouldn’t take offense at his offer. “Well, you know I need to complete my crew. And Santos Herrera died in battle, so I’ll be needing a new lieutenant.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0d7jMS3VaI

To his relief, Alonso’s face lit up with a smile. “Then here you have one, Hernan! I’ll be damned if I care losing rank for a chance to keep hunting those sons of bitches!”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgnGAeMH9y

The game kept getting long, and many men grew bored of following it. When most of those circling the table turned away from it, Maxó shook his dice louder than before.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7QiOrwA8F

“Oi!” he cried.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fc276R9tF

A few tables away, Morris heard him and nodded to Laventry’s lieutenant Walter Smith.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Tu5pDVPPH

Walter, who had accepted joining the conspiracy only after his captain authorized him, told once more the account of the battle against the Lion, raising his voice as he spoke. Around them, many turned to listen to him. They’d heard the story before, but nobody cared to hear it again for it was a good tale. And Walter was a great storyteller. Soon Maxó and De Neill were able to quit their game and join the audience, while Walter fed the suspense as he neared the moment when Wan Claup was shot.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡen5qqdwim0

By then, over fifty men circled Walter and Morris in a tight wall, leaning forward to not miss a word. Those who had been there added details, improving the story.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnTtsj6o8V

A surprised silence filled the tavern when he used the feminine. copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡotbuUCHrU4

Walter ignored it. “There she was, near the Sovereign’s side, fighting the Lion himself one on one! A dozen Spaniards surrounded her, ready to kill her, but she didn’t care. While the bastards close in on her, she disarms the Lion! She yanks the sword off his hand! She wields her blade to finish him! And then—!”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTrkmTEthM

“And then that Laventry moron showed up and forced her to retreat.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnl4ibLRJ0

Everybody turned to Maxó, who had cut Walter off annoyed. Many booed the pirate for ruining such a good tale.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8uQCpskQn

“What?” argued Maxó. “It’s the truth! The pearl could’ve rid us of that bastard and Laventry dragged her away!”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡoigPDDJh61

Briand, another conspirator after securing his job as the Phantom’s bosun, raised his voice from the other side of the tavern. “Are you saying the pearl defeated the infamous Lion?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vopAHBlzk

“Aye!” De Neill replied, sitting with Maxó on top of their table. “Who else could have done it, since the captain was wounded?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡmesR45gxp7

A grumbling murmur spread among the audience, all the men taking offense at the suggestion that a girl was better than any of them.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOpbD3PnkV

“I was there and it’s true,” somebody said.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡoorNN1vpn4

“Aye, I saw her face the Lion as equals,” said some other.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKjcCoiSVH

“Well, I don’t buy it,” said Charron from the counter, and approached the group as he gulped up his ale. “Not a year ago she welcomed us in her fancy dresses and her ribbons. And you’re telling me that all of a sudden she became an able swordsman?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Qvq29tRxN

“And what would you know? You left the Sovereign because she’d enrolled,” replied Morris, standing up. “You’re but a superstitious bigmouth.” copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVceJZgfpE

“Morris is right. The pearl was always good luck,” said Jean, the Sovereign’s master gunner.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8pDl11DTX

“True. The pearl is good luck,” someone agreed.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUNQlQ0OHx

“And you were not there,” Maxó said.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡCutOJdO0sd

The thick silence that followed Maxó’s word was loaded with superstitious fear. copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPFIo9JbsK

The pirate gifted them with a smirk that twisted the scar across his face. “The girl learned from the best ones among us, and she’s the daughter of one of our great captains, whose spirit watches over her from the other side. And you’re surprised she defeated that son of a bitch? If I were her, I wouldn’t be afraid of anything or anybody either. You can think whatever you like. I can’t wait till she gets a boat so I can sail under her command.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZptS9XtYU

“The old wolf is right!” cried Briand. “I’d sail under her if I could.”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLh3tSfpyZ

“And me!” said De Neill.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0O3JddsoG

“And me! And me!” The words echoed all over the tavern, coming from those who had sailed under Wan Claup.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPGCjzLg2J

Another frightened pause silenced the men. The small crowd around Walter and Morris split from behind to clear a path. The others stood on tables and chairs to see who had spoken in that firm, calm voice. And all of them muffled exclamations when they saw the figure clad in black by the tavern door.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMTAQCO44c

Morris held back his laughter, watching the faces around him, all turned to Marina. Despite the different height, and that it was plain to see she was no man, the black garments like her father’s and Wan Claup’s sword hanging from her belt were causing the impression they had expected.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh2rTm0ED3

Before the fear of her being a ghost spoiled the climax, he raised his glass to her. “Pearl! Welcome!”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOwUg3TBPh

Marina had to bit her tongue to stay serious and in character to walk toward her friend, hearing the murmurs as she went. She didn’t like wine, but she accepted the glass Morris handed out to her and sipped it, forcing herself to swallow.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB3ocU10Y6

The advice Maxó and Morris had given her echoing in her mind, she turned to face the gawking audience and flashed a quick smile. “I’m sorry I disturbed your leisure, gentlemen. Please, carry on,” she said in a kind but distant tone, with the right amount of authority.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJnfahBbWf

But nobody moved. Pretending to forget about them, she turned to Morris again. “It’s finished! We can sail whenever we want,” she said, allowing her enthusiasm to show in her voice. copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡek3LfkO8WE

Marina spun toward him and nodded with a smile the Sovereign crew knew well: the pearl had gotten away with something. She fished into her sash and gave Maxó a folded page.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF5mVgDxsz

Everybody closed in on him, trying to see the paper, elbowing each other and asking, “What? What does it say? What’s that?”copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHxbbnDzf5

Before they took it away, De Neill brushed his way up to a wooden column in the middle of the tavern and stuck it there with his own knife. Everybody got closer to read it, and Marina used the stir to sneak out of the tavern.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdK1zFhdcK

Those who could read repeated the message on the paper to those who couldn’t. And those who didn’t speak French asked for a translation.copyright protection8ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYqHOSQY98